Sitting judges highlight endorsements from across the aisle

Though Anne Arundel County's "final four" -- the four sitting Circuit Court judges who are running for retention this primary election -- are registered Republicans, they've found support from across the aisle as they try to hold onto their seats.

The slate's black, white and red signs tout an endorsement from Gov. Larry Hogan. But a robocall that went out to Anne Arundel voters Monday night pointed to support from local Democrats, as well.

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The call, made hours before polls opened for Tuesday's primary, said the four sitting judges -- Glenn Klavans, Stacy McCormack, Donna Schaefer and Cathy Vitale -- have been endorsed by "many Democratic leaders," including House Speaker Mike Busch and state Sen. John Astle.

Busch confirmed the endorsement Tuesday.

"I always take the sitting judges' side," he said. "As elected officials, we're part of the process of a how a judge gets selected, and I think it's best to support that process, whether you're a Democrat or a Republican."

In Maryland, judges are appointed to the bench by the governor, who receives recommendations from the Judicial Nominating Commission, a body set up to vet candidates. Circuit Court judges, who are appointed for a 15-year term, are the only judges who face retention elections.

The judicial election is nonpartisan -- meaning all candidates for the bench appear on both Democrats' and Republicans' ballots, regardless of a judge's personal political affiliation. Unlike other candidates, judges are barred from discussing their positions on issues.

The sitting judges, who call themselves the "final four" because they are the last four names alphabetically on the Circuit Court ballot, face one Republican challenger in attorney Mark W. Howes and one Democratic opponent, lawyer Rickey Nelson Jones. Washington, D.C. administrative law judge Claudia Barber has not shared her political affiliation.

Howes, a former police officer, says he has attempted, unsuccessfully, to get the nominating commission to send his name to the governor and wants to give voters a chance to weigh in. Supporters of Barber and Jones, who are both African-American, argue they should be elected to increase diversity on the bench.